The Rainbows Research and Bereavement Teams have been working in partnership with Loughborough University and the University of Leicester on an exciting new research project exploring bereavement care across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).
The group successfully secured funding through Collaboratory (on behalf of Research England) to support this project. Collaboratory research funding promotes partnerships between universities and local community organisations to carry out research that addresses the needs of the local area.
Previous research has identified barriers that can prevent people from minority ethnic communities accessing appropriate bereavement support. It has also highlighted that some bereavement care does not fully address different cultural, religious, and spiritual beliefs and practices.
This project will explore bereavement support interactions, and work alongside bereavement services across LLR to co-produce a practical tool to help empower staff and improve access to bereavement care for minority ethnic communities.
Rainbows former Spiritual Worker, Amy Crawford, will undertake the research as a PhD and will work closely with our bereavement, counselling and research teams, and cultural worker to deliver this.
The project will run for three years, and it is expected that it will lead to meaningful and positive outcomes for the families supported by Rainbows and those experiencing the death of a child across LLR.
You can read more about research at Rainbows